THE PERSON YOU SHOULDN’T BE

Jude 1:16 KJV
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

Dear Believer,

Jude, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has compiled for us  a list that can help us to easily and quickly place people who may claim to be believers but are not. Or who are Believers but are already moving away from the faith. He also wants us to avoid these things.

The whole chapter is deeply instructive, but I’m concentrating on this verse.

Jude speaks here of murmurers and complainers. He’s implying that they claim that they are Believers. But we know how dangerous murmuring is.

1Corinthians 10:10 KJV
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Murmuring, grumbling, complaining…are faith killers. They are manifestations of an attitude of unbelief. When the Israelites were marching towards the Promised Land, these evils were their bane.

We see this happening today as professing Believers murmur and complain about everything in the church or in other Believers.

It is natural to be disappointed when people you hold in high esteem misbehave, but God hasn’t called us to be the accuser of our brethren. Those who complain the most are usually those who do nothing to help the situation. They don’t pray or help in any other way. I have seen that you can’t do both; you are either murmuring or helping.

Jude says these people walk in their own lusts. That is another identifier of fakes. They have lusts and addictions that they indulge in and even justify. In fact, their ‘righteous anger’ is usually a way to cover up for their own hidden sins.

The next identifier is boastfulness. These people speak ‘swelling words.’ They talk others down while making so much of themselves and their abilities. Haven’t we all seen preachers who never find anything good in others but themselves?

Jude then describes these ones in words that show how hypocritical they can really be: they flatter people because of gain.

When they commend you, it isn’t because they truly appreciate you; it’s because you have something they want for themselves and they’ll praise you to high heavens if that’s what it will take to get that thing.

As for you, Jude counsels that you don’t go this way. You are to “build yourself up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” (Verse 20).

Instead of murmuring and complaining; instead of puffing up and harboring lust or boasting, get filled with the Holy Spirit. That is the way to make a difference.

Everything that is happening at this time will serve to make a distinction between the faithful and the fake.

Be on the right side.

Talk to the Father:
Dear Father, I thank you for your Presence in me. Today I pray and sing praise and am filled with the Holy Spirit. I shall be thankful and not be a murmurer or complainer. I pray and act to make a change. I shall not boast or walk in lust, but I shall pray and walk in purity, now and always, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have a beautiful day.

Your friend,
Deon.